Trial of the Detectives

The Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch was tasked with investigating a confidence trick carried out by Harry Benson and William Kurr, both Englishmen, who used horse racing bets to swindle £30,000 from Madame de Goncourt, a Parisian woman.

The pursuit and capture of Benson and Kurr proved to be a complicated task as they always managed to stay one step ahead of the authorities.

The subsequent investigation uncovered that Inspector John Meiklejohn had been accepting bribes from Kurr to provide advance warning of their impending arrest.

The three stood trial at the Old Bailey alongside solicitor Edward Froggatt and Chief Inspector George Clarke, also a Metropolitan Police detective.

The incident had implications for the organisation of Scotland Yard, as the Superintendent's ability to supervise his subordinates was called into question.