City police officer who was ahead of his time Norman Silvester He was one of Glasgow’s most decorated detectives and brought many of the…
He was one of Glasgow’s most decorated detectives and brought many of the best-known criminals of his day to justice.At the time Victorian Glasgow was booming and it had become known as the second city of the Empire.
McGimpsey was born in County Down, Ireland in 1864 and like many of his countrymen at the time came to Glasgow to exploit the new work opportunities.Around this time the City of Glasgow force was increasing the number of police officers, particularly detectives, to deal with the rise in crime. In those days the rank of Detective Officer was higher than that of Sergeant, This was to make sure that the Criminal Investigation Department got the best recruits.
The aim was to arrest a notorious bookmaker who had eluded the police for years. Then it was illegal to gamble and operate as a bookie. Many of the illegal bookies of the day were also involved in other types of crime. When they had seen enough, McGimpsey and his colleague arrested the bookmaker and took him back to Maitland Street.
He called in the local police chief Superintendant Mennie, who also failed to recognise the baker and workman. He operated a robbery gang which was being watched by a team of detectives led by McGimpsey He suspected that the office of the Glasgow Pawnbroking Company in nearby Bath Street was their intended target The manager often worked late and normally locked the premises at 10.30pm.
The robbers including ‘Scotch Jamie’, were taken completely by surprise and gave up without a fight later receiving hefty prison sentences. It was McGimpsey who was tasked with monitoring the activities of organisations sympathetic to the Irish cause in Glasgow.
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