Walker, Polly

Hertfordshire Mercury, 9th January 1926

Transcript

Quite a sensation was caused in Hitchin on Saturday evening when it became generally known that Eugene de Vere, otherwise John Albert Stichell, who was wanted in connection with a murder in Camden Town, had been arrested in Hitchin.

De Vere, who was attired in Oxford ”bags” had arrived in the town on Saturday evening and called at a small temperance hotel in Walsworth Road known as “The Acacias” and asked for lodgings “for two nights or possibly a week”. During the evening de Vere visited the local cinema, and on his return was let in by a young Air Force man Mr W. E. Sims.

Mr Sims and De Vere occupied the same bedroom, and Sims curiosity was attracted by the fact that De Vere did not take off his horn-rimmed glasses when he got into bed. Mr Sims chanced to read a description of the man wanted for the Camden Town murder, and he was struck by the similarity of the man with whom he shared the room, although de Vere had shaved off his moustache. Mr Sims consulted with Mrs Tabner, proprietress of the Acacias, and with Mr C.W. Tabner, and while de Vere was working out a cross-word puzzle Mr Tabner and Mr Sims went to the Police Station. Mrs Tabner engaged the man in conversation until Police Sergeant Saunders arrived. Sergeant Saunders spoke to the man, who admitted he was de Vere, and then took him to the Police Station.

Subsequently Detective Inspector Hambrook, of Scotland Yard, came to Hitchin, and took de Vere to London on the 5.20 train.

Hertfordshire Mercury – 16th January 1926

Murder Verdict Against de Vere.

At the resumed inquest in London on Polly Walker, the 16 year-old cashier who was found murdered at her home in Camden Town, a verdict of  ”Wilful Murder ” was returned against Eugene De Vere, who was arrested in Hitchin recently.

 

 

This page was added on 24/11/2015.

Add your comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!