Alexander Mason

Background

Alexander Mason was a 22-year-old Canadian deserter from the Great War.

Jacob Dickey was the driver of the taxi that was shot.

The offence

Two men were seen fighting with each other in a south London suburb on the evening of 9th May 1923. Shots were fired and one of the men fell to the ground near a taxi. The other man ran away. The man who fell was later identified as Jacob Dickey, the driver of the taxi.

Investigation

Police found several items near to the body. The items included the murder weapon, a jemmy, and a walking-stick with gold mount. The police decided that the walking-stick was recognisable and published a photograph of the stick.

The police soon received information that led them to interview Eddie Vivian.

Arrest

Eddie Vivian was interviewed. Vivian lived with his prostitute girlfriend in a flat in Pimlico. He was described as a convicted criminal. Vivian admitted ownership of the walking-stick but told police that on the day of the killing he had been home ill with food poisoning.

Vivian later freely told police that he had planned, along with 'Scottie' Mason, to burgle a house but had been too ill to venture out. Mason had borrowed the stick and left the flat on his own. Vivian said that Mason had returned later that evening in an agitated state and told them that he had shot a taxi driver.

Alexander Mason denied Vivian's account. Mason said that the illness was a ruse to fool Vivian's girlfriend and that he and Vivian went out together, and that it was Vivian who had fought with Dickey and shot him.

Mason was arrested and charged with murder.

Trial

At Mason's trial, Vivian appeared for the prosecution and recounted his story.

Mason was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Sentencing

Mason was sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to one of life imprisonment.

Outcome

Mason was released in 1937. He died during the Second World War while serving in the Merchant Navy.