The disappearance of Leslie Morgan
By Gareth George
The private backroom bar of The Albatross was a familiar rendezvous for Bill Daniels and his crew. Nobody knew quite why the local pub in Bromley, Surrey was called The Albatross but it had the advantage of being well off the beaten track. The publican was prepared to allow Bill and his mates to use the back room for their private get-togethers. They met every Thursday evening and the one thing you can be sure about was that they were not discussing The St. Peter’s church tower restoration fund. This was left to, a sub-committee of the PCC, that met every Monday in the same place, under the chairmanship of Doctor Edwards. This committee was becoming increasingly exasperated with the slow rate of progress and the distinct possibility that the church tower could collapse before they had accumulated sufficient funds to repair it!
Bill’s mates were a mixed bunch, but what they had in common, however, was a bond that had been built up over many years based on lots of successful criminal activity. The time had come, however, to wrap it up with one major heist which would set them all up financially for life. Jack Kaufman, known to his mates as ‘the fixer,’ had had an inspiration. He often came up with the bright ideas but hadn't the ability to develop a detailed plan. This was Bill Daniels strength. The four other members of Bill's gang had over the years established themselves in various specialist roles. There was Leslie Morgan and Andy Thomas the drivers, Joe Fretwell the safe breaker and finally Peter Campion their wizard computer hacker. It was Bill however who pulled it all together to ensure that the gangs criminal activity was so meticulously planned and executed that the police were always one step behind. There were no references to anyone present, for instance, on the police criminal computer database.
Jack's idea was to raid the Royal Mint at Godalming in Surrey. He had heard through various intermediaries and underground contacts that all the used banknotes needing replacement ended up being taken to a nondescript warehouse on an industrial estate just outside the town for destruction. Bill’s plan was relatively simple. Two hired vans driven by Leslie Morgan and Andy Thomas had to be acquired. Andy to carry personnel to and from the scene and Leslie to transport the bags of stolen money to a pre-arranged destination. The burglary itself was to be the joint responsibility of Joe, Bill and Peter with the transporting and unloading left to the drivers together with Jack. Careful surveillance had already been undertaken and the habits of the night watchman checked out. Bill and his team planned to gain access through a rear door having ‘disabled’ the night watchman. With carefully acquired inside information the location in the building of at least £20million of untraceable banknotes had already been established.
The raid was carried out on a cold and very wet night early in September. The plan worked to perfection, with the night watchman being only too willing to co-operate when confronted with Bill Daniels sawn-off shotgun. As arranged the successful team melted away into the night having loaded hundreds of sacks of used notes into Leslie Morgan's hired van. Andy then dropped the others at separate locations to suit carefully concocted alibis before disappearing himself as prearranged.
They had decided to let several days elapsed before meeting again at The Albatross to share out the proceeds. Bill was first to arrive but the others were not far behind him and all patiently waited for the last gang member, Leslie, to appear. Several pints and cigarettes later he still hadn't shown up. Slight anxiety soon gave way to real concern as the evening wore on. Something must have happened to Leslie and the cash! The gang could not afford to wait beyond pub closing time, however, without arousing suspicion and they were obliged to make their separate ways home empty-handed. A sleepless night was to follow interrupted rudely by the shattering of five separate front doors at 6 a.m. as the police SWAT teams crashed into their houses to arrest all the members of the gang. All except, Leslie Morgan, that is, he was nowhere to be found.
The subsequent trial at the Old Bailey was a foregone conclusion for the five defendants. The CPS seemed to have all the facts they needed to obtain lengthy convictions. Bill Daniels and his incomplete team were sent down for 14 years for aggravated robbery. Unable to produce the money, the judge was particularly tough with his sentencing policy. Later in Wormwood Scrubs the gang members all agreed that Leslie Morgan might enjoy the fruits of his crime and betrayal for the moment but their vengeance would know no bounds once they had completed their sentences. Their attempts to trace Leslie Morgan while inside were, however, completely unsuccessful.
Meanwhile Leslie Morgan had made plans of his own. On an earlier pretext he had reconnoitred South America and discovered that Bogota, Colombia was the perfect safe haven and well outside British police jurisdiction. Extradition treaties with Colombia being a non existent at this time he now enjoyed a dream lifestyle in this chaotic city. Living as an extremely wealthy casino owner he could indulge his passion for gambling with little chance of losing! Not content with that his new partner was none other than Bill’s very attractive new wife, Gloria! She had been only too happy to drop Bill, held at Her Majesty's pleasure, in favour of Leslie at large in South America. Gloria did not relish the life of regular prison visits and instead swapped it for the champagne and designer clothes lifestyle that a new liaison with Leslie could offer.
The five left in Wormwood Scrubs developed a pastime that they could all enjoy. With imagination they spent a great deal of time conjuring up a suitable excruciating death for Leslie their one-time partner in crime. It didn't help that other inmates believed that their release would herald a new beginning for them when they recovered the proceeds of the crime. The nods and winks they received just added fuel to their determination to seek revenge.
On the very day that five pale, scruffy, ex-convicts bent on revenge left Wormwood Scrubs a sumptuous private yacht berthed in London's St Katherine's Dock. Metropolitan police officers had been tipped off and an immaculately dressed, Leslie Morgan stepped ashore to go straight into custody. His tanned and relaxed appearance contrasted sharply with the other gang members dressed in out of date clothes and carrying all they had to their names in cheap plastic shopping bags..
A serene Leslie Morgan, having blown the complete fortune, had sensibly decided that owning up and seeking the sanctuary of her Majesty's prison was now a preferable option to facing the wrath of his former comrades. It had, after all, always been part of his plan to disappear and enjoy 10 plus years of bliss before giving himself up. In addition, an amazed Doctor Edwards was able to report to his Committee that Monday that he had anonymously received an envelope of cash for the Church tower that would more than pay for the complete restoration of St Peters!