Session 4: A Whiff of Smoke
General Summary
Saturday 27th February 1886
The League attend the Metropolitan Police Station to interview Alexander Crooks, the former Bank Manager of the Commercial Bank of South Australia, and Alexander M. Wilson, the former Bank Accountant. Under Detective Peter Dunlevey's quiet but intimidating supervision, two interviews are conducted in a room in the rear of the building. Alexander M. Wilson is interviewed first, then Alexander Crooks. Three days after these interviews the League receives interesting news.Wilson's Interview
Wilson is not represented by a lawyer. He appears gaunt, dishevelled, and exhausted. His hands are shaking and he is using one hand to scratch at the back of the other alternatively, possibly some sort of nervous behaviour. He admits to taking £900 from the Commercial Bank of South Australia in increments since 1882. He was trying to pay it back but he could only do so slowly as he can't meet his expenses and doesn't have much money spare. In November last year Crooks took Wilson to a brothel and opium den in Port Adelaide and he's been addicted to opium ever since. Wilson can't remember where, but he remembers he could see a ship out of the upstairs window. Wilson suspects a 170,000-pound banknote was forged and presented to multiple branches of the Commercial Bank of South Australia on the same or close days. He's also suspicious of a large share parcel auctioned in November. This auction started a run on the bank's shares and reduced the share value. He says Crooks is an arrogant narcissist and has had some suspicious bank transactions going on since November last year. Given Wilson's obvious remorse, co-operation, and the League's suspicion Crooks set him up in November to be ineffective as the Bank's Accountant, the League offer to pay for a good lawyer to represent him in court.Crooks' Interview
Crooks is represented by a lawyer from a law firm in Eagle Chambers who gives James Arthur Howard a business card. Much to everyone's surprise, the lawyer is Mr Walter Symon, a barrister. Under usual circumstances, barristers handle matters in court prepared for them by solicitors. Crooks is represented by a well experienced heavy hitter at home in the rarefied air of a courtroom. James baits Crooks by saying his handshake deals with unsecured borrowers only amounted to a minimal amount, covered easily by new bank reserves. Crooks decides he's not in so much trouble that he can't handle it himself, and dismisses his expensive barrister. Mr Symon is not happy and tells Crooks he will report back to his employer; someone Crooks doesn't want to anger. Without his barrister present, Crooks reveals himself to be a complete narcissist. He gloats over his lending portfolio which he says includes railways, mining, and shipping concerns. All have long lead times and none have appropriate collateral. What fools put this man in charge of a bank! Oh, that's right. The previous Board of Directors.Interesting News
On Tuesday 30th February the League receive two items of interesting news from Detective Peter Dunlevey:- The arm Dr Sanford Cleve Kirkham amputated from the dockworker was stolen from the Dead House at the Moseley Square Police Station on Sunday evening. There were no other bodies or human remains in the Dead House at the time.
- A woman claiming to be a medium visited the Metropolitan Police Station on Monday morning to report she knew where the Commercial Bank of South Australia's stolen money could be found.
Created Content
People
Lawyer for Wilson, Law Firm 1, location TBDMr Walter Symon, Cornish, Barrister for Crooks, Law Firm 2, Eagle Chambers, Adelaide
Whoever employed Crooks' lawyer (a Secret)
American medium on tour with her PA
American medium's PA
Landmark
Brothel and opium den with a view of a ship from the upstairs window (a Secret)Organisation
Law Firm 1Law Firm 2, Eagle Chambers
Adelaide Spiritualistic Society
Document
Lawyer's business cardPolice charge sheets for Wilson and Crooks (neither offender made a statement)
Spell
Spiritualism
Sanford Cleve Kirkham
Head Alienist Dr Sanford Cleve Kirkham
( 64 / Male ) from
Adelaide Lunatic Asylum at North Terrace
James Arthur Howard
Diplomat James Arthur Howard, Esq.
( 46 / male ) from
Adelaide
Report Date
27 Nov 2020
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