Retirement of Det. John Taylor

"Tact, daring, and cleverness," according to judges, magistrates, and police commissioners, by whom he has been specially commended no less than eighty times, have marked the career of Mr. John Taylor, the well-known Scotland-yard detective, who has just retired on a well-merited pension. To the criminal classes, Mr. Taylor - who comes of an old detective stock, his father having been detective-sergeant under Sir Richard Mayne - was known as "Jack the Sleuth-hound," and he has recorded more captures of burglars and housebreakers than any other officer in the force. He rendered great assistance in the capture of the notorious gang of ladder-thieves, whose exploits culminated in the Netherby Hall burglary and murder, Inspectors Aberline and Dodd having charge of the case. He broke up and captured the Holloway coining gang, taking the three principals single-handed, and being badly injured by them in the process. Mr. Taylor was stabbed on another occasion by a dangerous thief at the destruction of the Royal Park theatre, Regent's-park, by fire, and has had a most exciting and sensational career generally. One act which gained him great commendation was the recovery of a quantity of valuable property stolen from the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, at Portsmouth. No one will begrudge Mr. Taylor the rest he has so hardly earned, though all must regret the loss the force will sustain in the retirement of such an able and gifted officer.

Source: Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, January 5, 1896, Page 11