Police Diary, Vancouver: August 1 to 15, 1931

From the notebooks of Walter Rawlinson (1892-1945), Vancouver Police Department detective:

Saturday, August 1, 1931

2pm: Commenced duty.
2:15pm to 6pm: Attended unemployment meeting [demonstration] at Cambie St Grounds.
8pm: Interviewed the manager of the National Café re alleged holdup to take place tonight. Made arrangements with Inspector Tully to have same covered.
10pm: In company with Detective Sergeant (D/S) Sunstrum, attended a call to 1919 Commercial Dr & interviewed Miss May Rogers re holdup. Nothing taken. Report submitted.
During the evening, remained on call duty.
11pm: Reported off duty.

Sunday, August 2

Went to Harrison Hot Springs to try & locate Harry S Murray, warrant #639. In company with Provincial Constable Stewart, visited hotels & camps. Murray had been in camp but had booked out before our arrival. Stayed at Harrison all Sunday night.

Monday, August 3

Again commenced the search of HS Murray, warrant #639, but failed to locate him. Returned to Vancouver at 2pm.
3:45pm: Tried to execute warrant #644 for the arrest of George Taylor, obtaining money under false pretenses (OMFP). Party had just left place of employment.
5pm: Went to Shelly Building & made inquiries re letter #700. Attending further.
6pm: Reported off duty.

Tuesday, August 4: weekly leave.

Wednesday, August 5

2pm: Commenced duty. Attended Communist meeting [demonstration] on Powell St Grounds
4:45pm: Answered call to 1212 Powell St. Interviewed Mrs F Brown re break & enter (B&E) of her residence. Report submitted.
5pm: Called at the Hotel Vancouver & made investigations re Ridgway Audit Detective Agency re letter #700. Make further inquiries & report later.
8:15pm to 11pm: Patrolled, in company with Special Constable #176 Metcalf, Kitsilano & Point Grey districts.
11:30pm: Reported off duty.

Thursday, August 6

1:30pm: Commenced duty.
2pm to 4:30pm: On duty at the US Consul’s Office, Marine Building, re Communists’ demonstration.
4:45pm: Went to the Hotel Vancouver & made further inquiries re letter #700.
5:30pm: went to City Jail & made investigations re HS Murray, charged with furious driving, CABH. Endeavoring to work on information received.

8pm to 11pm: Patrolled, in company with Special Constable Clemens, north of Hastings St from Main to Granville streets.
9:15pm: Located stolen auto, BC 97-077 Master Coupe, in the 200 block Cambie St.
10:45pm: Arrested William Beatson, charged Vagrancy A.
11:15pm: Reported off duty.

Friday, August 7

2pm: Commenced duty. During afternoon, visited several rooming houses & poolrooms & made certain inquiries re safe blowers.
4:30pm: Called at the Hotel Vancouver re information.
7:45pm: In company with Special Constable McInnes, patrolled the vicinity of Kitsilano up to 11pm.
11pm: Reported off duty.

Saturday, August 8

2pm: Commenced duty.
3pm to 4:30pm: Attended unemployment meeting on Powell St Grounds.
Gave attention to report re William Dick’s store, [report #] D1420. Made certain inquiries & will give further attention.
7:30pm: In company with Special Constable McInnes, patrolled Kitsilano District to 11pm.
10:45pm: Escorted Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer from Weyburn [Saskatchewan] to Grand Northern Railway (GNR) depot with prisoner.

Sunday, August 9: weekly leave.

Monday, August 10

2pm: Commenced duty.
2:45pm: Went to Hotel Vancouver, room 339, & received information re letter #700. Will submit report.

4pm: Went to 316 W Georgia St & made inquiries re letter #700. Parties mentioned had left above address. Attending further. [Note: the primary occupant of that address per the city directory was: “J Rennie” in 1930; “A Wilson” in 1931 & 1932. So it was likely the 1930 occupants police were seeking. The reverse lookup shows it was James Rennie, a labourer].
5pm: Accompanied Detective Knox to a house on Victoria Dr re theft of bicycle.
6pm: On instructions from D/S Sunstrum, remained on call duty until 11pm.
10:50pm: Called at Colonial Rooms, 100 block Water St, re information on letter #700. Will give further attention.
11:15pm: Reported off duty.

Tuesday, August 11

2pm: Commenced duty.
2:45pm: Went to a grocery store at 1700 block Commercial Dr re information on suspects alleged to have committed B&E on Sobie’s & other robberies. Attending further.
3:25pm: Went to 2417 Cambridge St. Interviewed Mr & Mrs Morrison re theft of groceries, D1439 & D1438, who suspected a man named Keen, residing at 2581 Cambridge St. Interviewed Keen who denied all knowledge of theft.
During afternoon, visited several pool rooms in East End of city.
9:30pm: Answered call to the St Regis Hotel & met Sergeant Proudlock re 3 small girls alleged to have been assaulted. Accompanied girls to 600 block Hamilton St. On arrival, the boys ran away. This appears to be a bunch of boys & girls playing together & becoming tough. Took the girls’ & boys’ names.

Wednesday, August 12

2pm: Commenced duty.
2:05pm: Answered call to 344 W Pender St re dead man, Leonard J Cooper, 3469 Triumph St. Reported submitted.

2:35pm: Attended call to 1364 Francis St. Interviewed M Sorenson, age 11 years, re a man molesting him. D1448.
3:10pm Answered call to 570 Granville St. Interviewed Miss Fogg re her purse stolen. Report submitted.
5pm: Interviewed prisoner A Berg, charge Vagrancy A, & investigation re letter #700. Gained no further information.
8pm: Tried to execute warrant #670 for the arrest of F Rivers. Party not at home.
10:15pm: Answered call to 1330 W 8th Ave. Interviewed Mr McGillvray re his house B&E. Report submitted.
On instruction from D/S Sunstrum, remained on call duty up till 11pm.
11pm: Reported off duty.

Thursday, August 13

9:30am: Attended Police Court re cases of HS Murray, remanded 1 week, & Mike Arnson, theft from purse, remanded to Aug 17.
2pm: Commenced duty.
2:30pm: Attended Police Court re above Arnson case.
During the afternoon, remained in office re unemployment meeting.
8:30pm: Attended lineup of prisoners in courtroom.
10:30pm: Attended report of Paul Parker, D1433. Brought all parties connected to Headquarters & investigated. Informed Parker how to proceed by warrant.
During the evening, remained on call duty in office.
11pm: Reported off duty.

Friday, August 14

2pm: Commenced duty.
2:15pm: Attended lineup of prisoners in courtroom.
4pm: Remained in office on instructions from D/S Sunstrum doing office duty to 11:45pm.
11:45pm: Reported off duty.

Saturday, August 15

2pm: Commenced duty. In office checking up on photos of suspects wanted for recent holdups.
3pm to 5:30pm: During afternoon, visited several poolrooms & hotels re suspects. Also clubs.
7pm: Remained in office on call duty per instructions by D/S Sunstrum.
9pm: Called at Yale Hotel & received correspondence re wire from Cobalt, Alberta.
11pm: Remained in the vicinity of Georgia Viaduct re information from Dr Blumberger. Nothing doing tonight.
12:15am: Reported off duty.

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